Program areas at Grand Street Settlement
See schedule o - early childhood servicesearly childhood:grand st. Settlement serviced 1,036 children (ages birth to five) and their families in 30 early childhood education sites in the lower manhattan and brooklyn. This includes 486 children in gss-run centers, and 469 children in gss-supported child care partner centers. In fy23, 213 families in the early childhood programs achieved their goals of completed a degree program, job training program, receiving legal assistance, or other key accomplishments. Gss linked eligible children to comprehensive special needs services and therapies such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Families received all special needs services for free, and the total value of those services was approximately $12,000 per child.
See schedule o - senior servicessenior services: gss is committed to ensuring that older adults from the low-income communities we serve have the services and support needed to age in place and remain active members of the community. Beyond being a service provider, gss functions as a gathering pace that honors this period of life for its tremendous potential for person growth, wisdom, and creativity, improving quality of life by offering ample opportunities for seniors to volunteer and explore the rich cultural and linguistic diversity that defines the lower east side. Our primary neighborhood senior center, the Grand coalition of seniors, is located within our headquarters building at 80 pitt st., adjacent to large new york city housing authority (nycha) developments, the gompers houses, the baruch houses, and near several other nycha and affordable housing complexes. The Grand coalition of seniors serves nearly 1,523 people a year. Gss also operates senior programs at a naturally occurring retirement community (norc) in the baruch houses with 600+ participants. Gss serves seniors at our hud 202 senior housing facility on east 6th st., which serves 99 senior residents, and at the essex crossing community center at 175 delancey st. In essex crossing, which serves 150 seniors who live in the building.the Grand coalition of older adults at 80 pitt st. was relocated to the essex crossing community center at 175 delancey st. So that the 80 pitt st. building could undergo the long-planned capital renovation project, which is nearing completion. Seniors experienced little disruption of services, and shuttle vans were used to accommodate seniors if they were further away from essex crossing. Food distribution continued to homebound seniors. The program plans to return to the community center at 80 pitt st. In fy 2024 since the building renovations are completed.
See schedule o - youth and community development servicesyouth and community development services: gss provided over 3,000 hours of out-of-school learning activities to over 4,771 school-age children from low-income communities in new york city. This includes afterschool and summer day camp at schools and community centers across the lower east side and brooklyn. Gss youth programs are proven to improve attendance, grades, greater participation in science, technology, engineering and math (stem) education, and community supports for youth. In fy2023, gss expanded its stem learning curriculum to 585 public school students who live in public housing.
Families/benefits assistance:through our benefits assistance (formerly known as single stop) program and other social worker support, in fiscal year 2023, gss secured benefits and services for 1,305 families totaling over $2.7 million worth of assistance. Gss supports families in meeting their financial goals including providing free tax preparation services to 241 households. Gss referrals for legal assistance helped 87 with legal issues. The program connected 297 households to emergency broadband internet services, enrolled 27 people in job training and resume building, and connected 389 families to food pantry services.